Molina feuds with Mohun Bagan management after Super Cup exit, saying contract request was ignored

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Jose Molina fretted over his team’s management after the Indian Super League (ISL) champions were knocked out of the AIFF Super Cup at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

East Bengal and Bagan were both tied on points in the match, with the former topping the table with a higher goal difference. A stalemate between the two Kolkata giants saw the Red and Gold Brigade qualify for the semi-finals.

«I think it was a tough match for both teams. In the first half they dominated possession. But in the second half we turned the situation around. The three matches this season against East Bengal were really balanced matches,» Molina said after the match.

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«No one has been much better than the other. After all, the one who has had more success in the boxes, scored goals and not conceded, has won.»

Molina, who has won the ISL title with two teams – Bagan and ATK – accused the management of not accommodating his transfer interests this summer.

«With good signings, they (East Bengal) have strengthened the team; we have not,» he said.

«Every time we play against teams with foreign midfielders, we have no control over the position of the ball and we have to defend too much. I tried to sign a foreign midfielder but it was impossible.»

Last season, Bagan had Greg Stewart as their midfield tactician among the foreigners, a player who helped two sides – Jamshedpur FC and Bagan – win the ISL Shield in separate seasons, and scored nine goals last season.

But after he was released, the Mariners managed to sign Brazilian Robson Robinho, who, despite standing out in the Bangladesh Premier League, was not an equal replacement as he mainly plays as a winger and not as a number 10 (attacking midfielder).

“As a head coach, I decide the formations, lineups, how I want to play – everything around the team. But which players are signed is decided by management,” Molina said.

Molina’s accusation will put Bagan in a tough spot as it has three prominent Indian midfielders – Lalengmawia (Apuia) Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad and Anirudh Thapa – in its squad, besides Abhishek Suryavanshi, Thumsol Tongsin, Deepak Tangri and Glan Martins.

Among foreigners, Dimitrios Petratos remains an option, but he is mainly used as a second striker.

“Last season, the day after the cup final, I met with the management and told them my thoughts on the direction I see the team taking, and then he did what he could,” Molina added.

Published on November 1, 2025